Games of three card black jack and baccarat

ABSTRACT

Methods of playing card games similar to Blackjack and Baccarat are described. The methods include dealing initial hands of two cards. The hands must draw a third card if the first two cards have a value of 16 or less, and must stand if the first two cards have a value of 17 or more. Copy hands are a tie. Players are allowed to place bonus bets on the hands, such as three of a kind in the same suit, three of a kind, three low cards, three card straight, and first two cards are a pair.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the general field of games of chanceand, more particularly, to a method of playing a card game.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

New and exciting ways of playing card games similar to Blackjack andBaccarat are desired by players. Particularly, more ways to bet and moreways to win are desired. Also desired are games that are quicker andeasier to play because less thought is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Generally speaking, in accordance with an important aspect of theinvention, there is provided a method for playing a modified game ofBlackjack wherein each player is initially dealt two cards up and adealer is dealt a first card up and a second card down, said methodcomprising: after the initial two cards are dealt, the players and thedealer are limited to a single hit; and requiring the dealer and theplayers to hit on 16 and below and to stand on 17.

In accordance with one implementation, the dealer and players arerequired to hit on soft hands of 16 and below, and to stand on softhands of 17 and above.

In accordance with another implementation, the method further includesallowing each player to place a bonus bet prior to the beginning of theround, and playing each hand to completion prior to playing the dealerhand.

In one implementation, the bonus bet is that the player's cards will bethree of a kind in the same suit.

In another implementation, the bonus bet is that the player's cards willbe three of a kind.

In yet another implementation, the bonus bet is that the player's cardswill be three low cards from 2 through 6.

In a further implementation, the bonus bet is that the player's cardswill be a three card straight.

In another implementation, the bonus bet is that the player's first twocards will be a pair.

In another implementation, the method further includes providing that apair of Aces is the highest possible hand.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided amethod of playing a card game using a shoe of one or more standardplaying decks, wherein cards 2-10 are valued at face, Jack-King arevalued at 10, and Aces are valued as 1 or 11. This method involves anumber of players, a banker, and a house, and includes the followingsteps:

requiring each player to place an ante bet on either one of thefollowing—the “player” hand to win, the “banker” hand to win, and/or atie between the “player” hand and the “banker” hand;

dealing from the shoe:

-   -   a first card from the shoe to the “player” hand;    -   a second card from the shoe to the “banker” hand;    -   a third card from the shoe to the “player” hand; and    -   a fourth card from the shoe to the “banker” hand; determining if        both the “player” hand and the “banker” hand:    -   are a pair of Aces, or    -   have a value of 21, and,        -   if so, then            -   for each player that placed an ante bet on a tie between                the “player” hand and the “banker” hand, the banker                paying the player at predetermined winning odds,            -   for each player that placed an ante bet on the “player”                hand to win or on the “banker” hand to win, the banker                collecting the player's ante bet, and            -   ending the round;

determining if either the “player” hand or the “banker” hand is a pairof Aces, and, if so, then declaring the hand having the pair of Aces tobe the winning hand and the other hand to be the non-winning hand, and,

-   -   for each player that placed an ante bet on the winning hand, the        banker paying the player at predetermined winning odds, the        player paying the house a commission fee on the amount collected        from the banker,    -   for each player that placed an ante bet on the non-winning hand        or the tie between the “player” hand and the “banker” hand, the        banker collecting the player's ante bet, and    -   ending the round;

determining if either the “player” hand or the “banker” hand has a valueof 21 on the first two cards, and, if so, then declaring the hand havingthe value of 21 to be the winning hand and the other hand to be thenon-winning hand, and,

-   -   for each player that placed an ante bet on the winning hand, the        banker paying the player at predetermined winning odds, the        player paying the house a commission fee,    -   for each player that placed an ante bet on the non-winning hand        or the tie between the “player” hand and the “banker” hand, the        banker collecting the player's ante bet, and    -   ending the round;

determining whether the “player” hand and the “banker” hand must draw athird and final card as follows:

-   -   if one of the two cards is an Ace, the valuing that Ace as 11,    -   if the two cards total 17 or more, then requiring the hand to        stand on the two cards;    -   if the two cards total 16 or less, then requiring the hand to        draw a third card;

if the value of the “player” hand and the value of the “banker” hand areequal, then

-   -   for each player that placed an ante bet on a tie between the        “player” hand and the “banker” hand, the banker paying the        player at predetermined winning odds,    -   for each player that placed an ante bet on the first “player”        hand to win or on the second “banker” hand to win, the banker        collecting the player's ante bet,

determining a winner between each player and the banker as follows:

-   -   if the value of one of the “player” hand and the “banker” hand        is 21, then declaring the hand having a value of 21 to be the        winner;    -   if the value of the “player” hand and the “banker” hand are both        over 21 or are both under 21, then declaring the hand having a        value closer to 21 to be the winner;    -   if the value of one of the “player” hand and the “banker” hand        is under 21 and the value of the other hand is over 21, then        declaring the hand having a value under 21 to be the winner;

for each player that placed an ante bet on the winning hand, the bankerpaying the player at predetermined winning odds, and

for each player that placed an ante bet on the non-winning hand or thetie between the first “player” hand and the second “banker” hand, thebanker collecting the player's ante bet.

According to one implementation, the method includes allowing eachplayer to place a bonus bet prior to the beginning of the round. Thebonus bet may be at least one of the following: a) that the first“player” hand or the second “banker” hand will be three of a kind in thesame suit; b) that the “player” hand or the “banker” hand will be threeof a kind; c) that the “player” hand or the “banker” hand will be threelow cards from 2 through 6; d) that the “player” hand or the “banker”hand will be a three card straight; or e) that the first two cards ofthe “player” hand or the “banker” hand will be a pair.

According to one implementation, the dealer serves as both the house andthe banker.

According to another implementation, the dealer serves as both the houseand the banker for the bonus bets, but a player acts as the banker forthe ante bets.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will be setforth in, or apparent from, the detailed description of preferredembodiments thereof which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a first exemplary method for playing a cardgame.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a second exemplary method for playing a cardgame.

FIG. 3 is an overhead view of an exemplary playing table for use withthe second exemplary method for playing a card game of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS A. Three Card Blackjack

FIG. 1 shows a flow chart of a first exemplary method 10 of playing acard game similar to traditional Blackjack. Preferably, the card gameuses a shoe of one, two, four, six or eight standard playing decks ofcards with one to eight jokers, although the jokers are not necessary.Cards 2-10 are valued at face. The Jack-King cards are valued at 10. TheAce cards are valued as 1 or 11, as described below. The highestpossible hand is a pair of Aces, followed by the traditional Blackjackhand valuations thereafter. The game involves a number of players and adealer. The steps of the first exemplary method 10 are discussed below.

Step S12 is requiring an ante bet from each player to begin a round ofthe game.

Step S14 is allowing each player to place a bonus bet that the player'scards will be a particular combination. As explained below, the player'shand will be played to completion prior to playing the dealer hand toprovide the player an opportunity to develop the hand in order to win onthe bonus bet. Advantageously, the bonus bets make the game moreinteresting and provide the players with more ways to win.

One bonus bet that the player can make is that the player's cards willbe three of a kind in the same suit.

Another bonus bet that the player can make is that the player's cardswill be three of a kind.

Yet another bonus bet that the player can make is that the player'scards will be three low cards from 2 through 6.

Another bonus bet that the player can make is that the player's cardswill be a three card straight.

One further bonus bet that the player can make is that the player'sfirst two cards will be a pair.

Step S16 is dealing from the shoe: two face-up cards to each of thenumber of players; and a face-down card and a face-up card to thedealer.

Step S18 is allowing each player to place an insurance bet at apredetermined cost. Thus, after the initial two cards are dealt, if theplayer is concerned based on the dealer's face-up card that the dealermay win the round with a pair of Aces or 21 with the first two cards,the player may choose to place an insurance bet, preferably in an amountup to ½ of the player's ante bet. If the dealer ends up winning theround with a pair of Aces or 21 with the first two cards, the dealerwill collect the player's ante bet, but will pay the insurance bet atpredetermined insurance odds, preferably 2:1.

Step S20 is allowing each player an opportunity to surrender their handand recover the player's ante bet for a predetermined surrender cost,preferably ½ of the player's ante bet. Thus, after the initial two cardsare dealt, if the player is concerned based on the dealer's face-up cardthat the dealer may win the round, the player may choose to surrenderthe player's hand for a cost of ½ of the ante bet. It should be notedthat this rule is optional.

Step S22 is allowing each player an opportunity to double the player'sante bet (i.e. “doubling down”). It should be noted that this rule isoptional.

Step S24 is allowing each player to split the player's first card andsecond card into two separate hands if the first card and the secondcard are a pair, and if the player makes an additional ante bet for thenew hand. This rule is also optional.

The exemplary method 10 continues to step S30. Step S30 is, for eachplayer, determining that the player must draw a third and final card ifthe two cards dealt to the player total 16 or less, or determining thatthe player must stand if the two cards dealt to the player total 17 ormore. As mentioned earlier, a pair of Aces is the highest possible hand.

“Soft” hands are hands where one of the initial two cards is an Ace. Intraditional Blackjack, the player is allowed to determine whether suchan Ace is valued as a one or as an eleven. This can slow the play of thegame as the player makes this determination. However, in the exemplarymethod 10 described herein, if the initial hand is a soft hand, the Aceis automatically valued as an eleven for the purpose of determining ifthe player must draw a third and final card. Thus, the player must hiton soft hands of 16 and below, and stand on a soft hands of 17 andabove, removing the decision-making by the player from the game.

Step S32 is determining if the player has “busted” (defined as nothaving a pair of Aces and having a value greater than 21). If the playerhas busted, then they lose and step S34 is collecting the player's antebet and collecting/paying the player's bonus bet, if any.

Suggested odds for the bonus bets are shown below:

three of a kind in the same suit 100:1  three of a kind 30:1 three lowcards (2 through 6) 15:1 three card straight  6:1 first two cards are apair 11:1

It should be noted that the exact odds for the bonus bets may be changedby the house. Still further, the steps of evaluating andcollecting/playing the bonus bets described herein may be deferred forall players until the end of the round, and done in a single step foreach player, which would be considered to be equivalent to performingthe steps throughout the round as each player's individual participationin the round comes to an end.

Step S36 is ending the round for that player. Play continues from playerto player until all of the players have played their hands tocompletion. The dealer hand is not “checked” for a pair of Aces or atwo-card 21 until all of the player hands have been played tocompletion, in order to allow the player hands to develop for thepurpose of the bonus bets.

Step S40 is determining that the dealer must draw a third and final cardif the two cards dealt to the dealer total 16 or less, or determiningthat the dealer must stand if the two cards dealt to the dealer total 17or more. The dealer must also hit on soft hands of 16 or less, and standon soft hands of 17 or more.

Step S42 is determining if the dealer has busted. If the dealer hasbusted, the next step S44 is, for each of the remaining players, payingthe player according to predetermined winning odds (described below),and collecting/paying the player's bonus bet, if any. Step S46 is endingthe round.

If the dealer has not busted, the next step S50 is resolving the winnerbetween each of the remaining players and the dealer as follows:

the highest value hand is a pair of Aces;

the second highest value hand is a two-card 21;

the third highest value hand is the hand closest or equal to 21; and

in the event of hands of equal value, declaring a tie between the playerand dealer.

Step S52 is returning the ante bet to each player that has a tie handwith the dealer; paying each player that is determined to be a winneraccording to predetermined winning odds; and collecting the ante betfrom each player if the dealer is determined to be the winner.

Exemplary predetermined winning odds are: for a pair of Aces, 2:1; for atwo-card 21, 3:2; and for all other winning hands, 1:1.

Additionally, if the player made a bonus bet, it is determined whetherto collect or pay the bonus bet, as described above.

B. BJ * Baccarat

FIG. 2 shows a second exemplary method 100 of playing a card game. Thecard game of the second exemplary method is similar to Baccarat. 1.Preferably, the card game uses a shoe of one, two, four, six or eightstandard playing decks, with one to eight jokers, although the jokersare not necessary. Cards 2-10 are valued at face. The Jack-King cardsare valued at 10. Aces are valued as 1 or 11, as discussed below. Thegame involves a number of players, a banker, and a house/dealer. Thesteps of the second exemplary method 100 are described below.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary playing table 12 for use with the secondexemplary method 100, including positions for the bets of a number ofplayers 14 a-14 g, a “player” hand 16, and a “banker” hand 18.

Returning now to FIG. 2, step S102 is requiring each player to place anante bet on one of the following—the “player” hand to win, the “banker”hand to win, and/or a tie between the “player” hand and the “banker”hand.

Step S104 is allowing each player to place a bonus bet that the “player”hand or the “banker” hand will be dealt in a particular combination. Thebonus bets make the game more interesting and provide the players withmore ways to win.

One bonus bet that the player can make is that the “player” hand or the“banker” hand will be three of a kind in the same suit.

Another bonus bet that the player can make is that the “player” hand orthe “banker” hand will be three of a kind.

Yet another bonus bet that the player can make is that the “player” handor the “banker” hand will be three low cards from 2 through 6.

Another bonus bet that the player can make is that the “player” hand orthe “banker” hand will be a three card straight.

One further bonus bet that the player can make is that the first twocards of the “player” hand or the “banker” hand will be a pair.

Step S106 is dealing from the shoe as follows:

a first card from the shoe to the “player” hand;

a second card from the shoe to the “banker” hand;

a third card from the shoe to the “player” hand; and

a fourth card from the shoe to the “banker” hand.

The next step S108 is determining if both the “player” hand and the“banker” hand either: a) are a pair of Aces, or b) have a value of 21,which are winning hands and will stop the round.

If both hands are the same winning hand (i.e. a tie), then the next stepS110 is: for each player that placed an ante bet on a tie between the“player” hand and the “banker” hand, the banker paying the player atpredetermined winning odds (for a winning tie bet) (preferably 8:1); andfor each player that placed an ante bet on the “player” hand to win oron the “banker” hand to win, the banker collecting the player's antebet. Additionally, if the players made any bonus bets, they are paid orcollected as appropriate according to the suggested payouts for thebonus bets listed below. The next step S112 is ending the round.

If both hands are not the same winning hand, then the next step S114 isdetermining if either the “player” hand or the “banker” hand is a pairof Aces. If so, then step S116 is declaring the hand having the pair ofAces to be the winning hand and the other hand to be the non-winninghand. The next step S118 is: for each player that placed an ante bet onthe winning hand, the banker paying the player at predetermined winningodds (preferably 1:1), and the player paying the house a commission fee(preferably 5%-10%) on the amount collected from the banker; and foreach player that placed an ante bet on the non-winning hand or the tiebetween the “player” hand and the “banker” hand, the banker collectingthe player's ante bet. Additionally, if the players made any bonus bets,they are paid or collected as appropriate according to the suggestedpayouts for the bonus bets listed below. The next step S112 is endingthe round.

If either the “player” hand or the “banker” hand is not a pair of Aces,then the next step S120 is determining if either the “player” hand orthe “banker” hand has a value of 21. If so, then step S122 is declaringthe hand having the value of 21 to be the winning hand and the otherhand to be the non-winning hand. The next step S124 is: for each playerthat placed an ante bet on the winning hand, the banker paying theplayer at predetermined winning odds (preferably 1:1), and the playerpaying the house a commission fee (preferably 5%-10%); and for eachplayer that placed an ante bet on the non-winning hand or the tiebetween the “player” hand and the “banker” hand, the banker collectingthe player's ante bet. Additionally, if the players made any bonus bets,they are paid or collected as appropriate according to the suggestedpayouts for the bonus bets listed below. The next step S112 is endingthe round.

It should be noted that steps S114 determining if either the “player”hand or the “banker” hand is a pair of Aces and S120 determining ifeither hand has a value of 21, as well as the respective ensuing steps(S116, S118, S122, S124 and S112) can be combined keeping in mind that apair of Aces has the highest ranking, and that the next highest rankingis the first two cards having a value of 21. Such a combination of stepswould be equivalent to the described sequence of steps, and within thespirit and scope of the method as claimed hereinafter.

If either the “player” hand or the “banker” hand does not have a valueof 21, then the next step S126 is determining whether the “player” handand the “banker” hand must draw a third and final card as follows:

if one of the two cards is an Ace, then valuing that Ace as 11;

if the two cards total 16 or less, then S128 requiring the hand to drawa third card; and

if the two cards total 17 or more, then S130 requiring the hand to standon the two cards.

The next step S132 is determining a winner between each player and thebanker as follows:

if the value of the “player” hand and the value of the “banker” hand areequal, then declaring bets placed on a tie between the hands to be thewinner;

if the value of only one of the “player” hand and the “banker” hand is21, then declaring the hand having a value of 21 to be the winner;

if the value of the “player” hand and the “banker” hand are both over 21or are both under 21, then declaring the hand having a value closer to21 to be the winner; and

if the value of one of the “player” hand and the “banker” hand is under21 and the value of the other hand is over 21, then declaring the handhaving a value under 21 to be the winner.

The next step S134 is paying the winner between each player and thebanker as follows:

the value of the hands are equal, then for each player that placed anante bet on a tie between the “player” hand and the “banker” hand, thebanker paying the player at predetermined winning odds (for a winningtie bet) (preferably 8:1);

otherwise, for each player that placed an ante bet on the winning hand,and the banker paying the player at predetermined winning odds(preferably 1:1),

the banker collecting the non-winning ante bets; and

if the players made any bonus bets, they are paid or collected asappropriate according to the suggested payouts for the bonus bets listedbelow.

Suggested payouts for the relevant bonus bets are as follows:

three of a kind in the same suit 100:1  three of a kind 30:1 three lowcards (2 through 6) 15:1 three card straight  6:1 first two cards are apair 11:1

Following step 134, step S112 is ending the round.

Notably, each player only pays the house a commission fee if the playerplaced an ante bet on a winning hand, and the winning hand is either apair of Aces or a two-card 21.

In variations of the game, either the dealer/house may serve as thebanker, or a player may serve as the banker (assuming, of course, thatthe player has enough bank roll to pay out all the winnings except thehouse will not make any bets). When the player is the banker, the housewill accept all of the bonus bets, and will take the commission when the“player” hand or the “banker” hand is the winner on a pair of Aces or aBlackjack.

Although the invention has been described above in relation to preferredembodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the artthat variations and modifications can be effected in these preferredembodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of theinvention.

1. A method for playing a modified card game wherein the value of eachhand is determined by the sum of the values of the cards in the hand,wherein Aces count 1 and 11, face cards count 10, and all other cardscount their values, said method comprising: initially dealing two cardsonly to one or more player hands and to a house hand; after the initialtwo cards are dealt, the one or more player hands and a house hand arelimited to a single hit; and dealing a final card to the house hand andthe one or more players hands for hands with counts of 16 and below, andterminating the deal without dealing a final card for all hands withcounts 17 and above including requiring the house hand and the one ormore player hands to hit on soft hands of 16 and below, and to stand onsoft hands of 17 and above so that the number of cards dealt to thehouse hand and the one or more player hands is automatically determined,and providing that a pair of Aces is the highest possible hand, that aAce and a card valued at 10 is the next highest possible hand, and that21 is the next highest hand, and further providing that if both a househand and a player hand are over 21, the lower hand wins.
 2. (canceled)3. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing each player toplace a bonus bet prior to the beginning of the round that the player'scards will be three of a kind in the same suit; and playing each playerhand to completion prior to playing the house hand.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising allowing each player to place a bonus betprior to the beginning of the round that the player's cards will be anythree of a kind; and playing each player hand to completion prior toplaying the house hand.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprisingallowing each player to place a bonus bet prior to the beginning of theround that the player's cards will be three low cards from 2 through 6;and playing each player hand to completion prior to playing the househand.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing each playerto place a bonus bet prior to the beginning of the round that any of theplayer's cards will be a three card straight; and playing each playerhand to completion prior to playing the dealer hand.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising allowing each player to place a bonus betprior to the beginning of the round that the player's first two cardswill be a pair; and playing each player hand to completion prior toplaying the house hand.
 8. (canceled)
 9. A method of playing a card gameusing a shoe of one or more standard playing decks, wherein cards 2-10are valued at face, Jack—King are valued at 10, and Aces are valued as 1or 11, the game involving a number of players, a banker, and a house,comprising the steps of: to begin a round of the game, requiring eachplayer to place an ante bet on one of a first “player” hand to win, asecond “banker” hand to win, and a tie between the first “player” handand the second “banker” hand; dealing from the shoe: a first card fromthe shoe to the “player” hand; a second card from the shoe to the“banker” hand; a third card from the shoe to the “player” hand; and afourth card from the shoe to the “banker” hand; determining if both the“player” hand and the “banker” hand: are a pair of Aces; or have a valueof 21; and, if so, then for each player that placed an ante bet on a tiebetween the “player” hand and the “banker” hand, returning the player'sante bet, the banker paying the player at predetermined winning odds;for each player that placed an ante bet on the “player” hand to win oron the “banker” hand to win, the banker collecting the player's antebet; and ending the round; determining if either the “player” hand orthe “banker” hand is a pair of Aces, and, if so, then declaring the handhaving the pair of Aces to be the winning hand and the other hand to bethe non-winning hand; and, for each player that placed an ante bet onthe winning hand, the banker paying the player at predetermined winningodds, the player paying the house a commission fee on the amountcollected from the banker; for each player that placed an ante bet onthe non-winning hand or the tie between the “player” hand and the“banker” hand, the banker collecting the player's ante bet; and endingthe round; determining if either the “player” hand or the “banker” handhas a value of 21, and, if so, then declaring the hand having the valueof 21 to be the winning hand and the other hand to be the non-winninghand; and, for each player that placed an ante bet on the winning hand,the banker paying the player at predetermined winning odds, the playerpaying the house a commission; for each player that placed an ante beton the non-winning hand or the tie between the “player” hand and the“banker” hand, the banker collecting the player's ante bet; and endingthe round; determining whether the “player” hand and the “banker” handmust draw a third and final card as follows: if one of the two cards isan Ace, then valuing that Ace as 11; if the two cards total 17 or more,then requiring the hand to stand on the two cards; if the two cardstotal 16 or less, then requiring the hand to draw a third card; if thevalue of the “player” hand and the value of the “banker” hand are equal,then for each player that placed an ante bet on a tie between the“player” hand and the “banker” hand, the banker paying the player atpredetermined winning odds; for each player that placed an ante bet onthe “player” hand to win or on the “banker” hand to win, the bankercollecting the player's ante bet; determining a winner between eachplayer and the banker as follows: if the value of one of the “player”hand and the “banker” hand is 21, then declaring the hand having a valueof 21 to be the winner; if the value of the “player” hand and the“banker” hand are both over 21 or are both under 21, then declaring thehand having a value closer to 21 to be the winner; if the value of oneof the “player” hand and the “banker” hand is under 21 and the value ofthe other hand is over 21, then declaring the hand having a value under21 to be the winner; for each player that placed an ante bet on thewinning hand, the banker paying the player at predetermined winningodds; and for each player that placed an ante bet on the non-winninghand or the tie between the “player” hand and the “banker” hand, thebanker collecting the player's ante bet.
 10. The method of claim 9,further comprising allowing each player to place a bonus bet prior tothe beginning of the round that the “player” hand or the “banker” handwill be three of a kind in the same suit.
 11. The method of claim 9,further comprising allowing each player to place a bonus bet prior tothe beginning of the round that the “player” hand or the “banker” handwill be three of a kind.
 12. The method of claim 9, further comprisingallowing each player to place a bonus bet prior to the beginning of theround that the “player” hand or the “banker” hand will be three lowcards from 2 through
 6. 13. The method of claim 9, further comprisingallowing each player to place a bonus bet prior to the beginning of theround that the “player” hand or the “banker” hand will be a three cardstraight.
 14. The method of claim 9, further comprising allowing eachplayer to place a bonus bet prior to the beginning of the round that thefirst two cards of the “player” hand or the “banker” hand will be apair.
 15. The method of claim 9, wherein the dealer serves as both thehouse and the banker.
 16. The method of claim 9, wherein the dealerserves as both the house and the banker for the bonus bets, but a playeracts as the banker for the ante bets.
 17. The method of claim 1, whereinthe house hand is a dealer hand and the card game is a modified game ofBlackjack, further comprising initially dealing the one or more playerhands two cards up and initially dealing the dealer hand a first card upand a second card down.
 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the househand is a “banker hand and the card game is a modified game of Baccarat,further comprising: to begin a round of the game, requiring each playerto place an ante bet on one of a first “player” hand to win, a second“banker” hand to win, and a tie between the first “player” hand and thesecond “banker” hand; determining if both the “player” hand and the“banker” hand: are a pair of Aces; or have a value of 21; and, if so,then for each player that placed an ante bet on a tie between the“player” hand and the “banker” hand, returning the player's ante bet,the banker paying the player at predetermined winning odds; for eachplayer that placed an ante bet on the “player” hand to win or on the“banker” hand to win, the banker collecting the player's ante bet; andending the round; determining if either the “player” hand or the“banker” hand is a pair of Aces, and, if so, then declaring the handhaving the pair of Aces to be the winning hand and the other hand to bethe non-winning hand; and, for each player that placed an ante bet onthe winning hand, the banker paying the player at predetermined winningodds, the player paying the house a commission fee on the amountcollected from the banker; for each player that placed an ante bet onthe non-winning hand or the tie between the “player” hand and the“banker” hand, the banker collecting the player's ante bet; and endingthe round; determining if either the “player” hand or the “banker” handhas a value of 21, and, if so, then declaring the hand having the valueof 21 to be the winning hand and the other hand to be the non-winninghand; and, for each player that placed an ante bet on the winning hand,the banker paying the player at predetermined winning odds, the playerpaying the house a commission; for each player that placed an ante beton the non-winning hand or the tie between the “player” hand and the“banker” hand, the banker collecting the player's ante bet; and endingthe round; if the value of the “player” hand and the value of the“banker” hand are equal, then for each player that placed an ante bet ona tie between the “player” hand and the “banker” hand, the banker payingthe player at predetermined winning odds; for each player that placed anante bet on the “player” hand to win or on the “banker” hand to win, thebanker collecting the player's ante bet; determining a winner betweeneach player and the banker as follows: if the value of one of the“player” hand and the “banker” hand is 21, then declaring the handhaving a value of 21 to be the winner; if the value of the “player” handand the “banker” hand are both over 21 or are both under 21, thendeclaring the hand having a value closer to 21 to be the winner; if thevalue of one of the “player” hand and the “banker” hand is under 21 andthe value of the other hand is over 21, then declaring the hand having avalue under 21 to be the winner; for each player that placed an ante beton the winning hand, the banker paying the player at predeterminedwinning odds; and for each player that placed an ante bet on thenon-winning hand or the tie between the “player” hand and the “banker”hand, the banker collecting the player's ante bet.
 19. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the house hand is a “banker” hand.
 20. The method ofclaim 19, wherein a player may bet on at least one of his player hand,the “banker” hand, or another player hand.